Chelsea will resist Tottenham's Joe Cole interest

03 August 2009 10:33
Chief executive Peter Kenyon has previously explained the departure of 15 global scouts last year with reference to the desire to focus on developing home-grown talent and making the core of the team English, with Daniel Sturridge and Ross Turnbull already among three new signings this summer. Redknapp is understood to be interested in Cole, who has only one year remaining on his contract and missed much of last season with a knee injury. Chelsea, though, are likely to offer Cole a new contract, with Carlo Ancelotti having already indicated that the England midfielder is part of his plans, potentially playing at the tip of the midfield diamond he appears to prefer. 'Chelsea are mindful of new rules that are being proposed both by Uefa and Fifa to limit the number of overseas players and therefore would be reluctant to lose Cole, who with John Terry, Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole is one of only four English first-team regulars. There are also high hopes for defender Michael Mancienne, who has been previously been selected for Fabio Capello's England squad. At present, Chelsea are focused on strengthening their squad as negotiations continue with AC Milan over Italian World Cup winner Andrea Pirlo. Milan have rejected an initial suggestion of around £7 million plus Claudio Pizarro, but a deal is expected to be complete this week. Pirlo has been at Milan since 2001 and was converted into a deep-lying holding midfielder by Ancelotti. The chances of signing Franck Ribery, however, are now dwindling, with the German winger likely to move to Real Madrid next season. Bayern Munich have set an extraordinary £80 million valuation for Ribery, but the main obstacle to any deal for Chelsea or Manchester United is Ribery's apparent preference for Madrid.

Source: Telegraph